Officials say the toddler’s parents could face charges. Police Chief William McManus said the officer was reporting back to his substation when he heard something hit his car in the 4100 block of Culebra Road. A Chrysler 300 behind the police cruiser also struck the child, and that driver stopped to render aid, police said.

“It was an unavoidable accident,” the chief said. “He is a good officer. … He is extremely upset by what happened.”